Ranger Newbie Questions

[Duneswalker]

Hi All,

Just getting started in IWD/HOW. What is the better melee character, straight fighter with GM or Ranger with the extra attack? Also in HOW does a ranger/cleric still get all cleric and druid spells at the cleric's level or did they "fix" this.

Thanks

[Accord]

1) Fighters are always the best given the comparison is in same level/equipment/setting. If you want a tank, stick with fighters.
2) I think you still get both types of spells when you are ranger/cleric. Not too sure since I always play this "ranger/cleric" as multi-class.

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Long live H22A1!!!!!

[Leafy]

Rangers do it better. they get the extra attack and can specialize (extra 1/2 attack)... fighters can master a weapon, but it takes 5 slots (at least level 9). mastery gives another 1/2 attack and increases thaco by 3 (decreases?)
but rangers still get more attacks.
Ranger spells in HoW come at the ranger's level. so a cleric ranger is not as cool as in the original IWD, but he does get the "druid spells" once his ranger class is high enough to cast that spell level..

[Duneswalker]

Well I never did get going in IWD this weekend, too nice Sunday, yard work to do. Now I'm back at work. BOOOO Don't they understand I've got giants to slay and kingdoms to overthrow?

Any way on the ranger thing, which weapons can the ranger use the extra attack with, the manual says long swords? My pally is the long sword man (for pale justice) and my dwarf is axe and hammer (natually) that leaves my third fighter, who I was possibly going to make a ranger with great swords, will the ranger extra attck be of any use with great swords? If not would I miss a lot of cool stuff by having two guys with long swords and non with great?

[Windrunner]

There are no weapons that a Ranger cann't use they have the same abilities as fighters except they can only reach a level 2 (**) mastery with a weapon. But straight Rangers are better because they obtain cleric spells on their own. ( level 8).Number of attacks even if your charater report says you have 2 attacks it is still based on the speed factor of the weapon. The lower the speed factor 5 or less and you will actually be able to get 2 attacks per round. The speed factor is (around is mesured in 1/10ths, so a 6 is 6/10ths of a round, there for you would only be able to attack once with a weapon that has a speed factor of anything 6 or above, where as 5 or less and you can attack twice in one round.)As always this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

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[Leafy]

I think the Ranger attack bonus is only with one handed weapons. the idea here is that he gets a weapon in each hand, but because the designers at interplay were too lazy or too stupid to add dual weilding to this expansion (which was already part of BG2), we have to settle for one onehanded weapon and no shield to "emmulate" dual weapon style...

[Khanar]

Sure is lazy. What would it have taken? A bit of new code pulled from the BG2 source, custom fitted into HoW and the new animations showing dual weilding characters.

[Duneswalker]

So are you saying that the ranger gets an extra attack with ANY one handed weapon? What are bastard swords one or two. I guess that only leaves out two handed swords & halberds?

[Leafy]

and spears, and staves, and bows or anything else otherwise noted as "two handed", yeah. personally, i like the mace, flail and longsword